I hope anyone who takes the time to read this will enjoy it.
:: :: Non spoken conversation
Kokoro - Heart, Mind and Soul
Part 11
By Jade One
Time Frame: Day after Exchange
Kyoto
"Bye Jiyaaaa!" Misao hollered, waving one last time,
before she turned and ran after the peculiar group who were travelling
to Tokyo. She was going with them and she wasn't about to give them
the opportunity to accidentally leave her behind. She looked angrily
at Aoshi-sama's back. Who ever thought I would be angry at him?
But she was. She was still sheathing about the way she had been informed
of events. I'm not a child, Aoshi-sama. The thought was directed
more at everyone who had been involved in the conspiracy, but for Aoshi
it carried a double meaning. She growled, that she should have had to find
out in such a way. I mean, why couldn't they just tell me Kaoru-san
was kidnapped. There was no need to hide it from me. And if they had, we'd
be in Tokyo by now! Himura-san wouldn't ask for help, it's not like him
but... Mou! As for him not asking for help, he shouldn't have to.
Him, Kaoru-san, even Yahiko, Sagara and Megumi are our friends. They don't
have to ask. I don't care that he doesn't want help. He'd just have to
deal with getting it anyway. Misao thought as she dodged nimbly through
the early morning traffic.
I'm not a child minna! How do I make them...
him see that? The question formed the basis of her second, and underlying
reason for insisting upon coming. It didn't matter what that old man Shinichi
had said, she'd spent nine years of her life, hoping against hope, that
they would return. And then another year, after she'd decided, over Jiya's
stringent objections that she wasn't old enough, searching for him, following
even the slightest hint of a rumor. And then, that terrible time when she
had found him... But that was over now. It didn't matter that it might
be dangerous, she wasn't letting him out of her sight. She was going to
ensure he came back and no one was going to gain say her!
She skipped past the group, looking sideways as
she passed Hiko-san. He seemed somehow more serious than the last time
she had seen him. There was something which had been worrying him for a
while. She wondered if had something to do with what those two men had
said or whether it was the report the Oniwa Banshu had received last night
on his deshi and his state of mind. His reaction to that had been rather
forceful. "That's impossible. The Hitokiri Battousai is dead! The Ougi..."
He had trailed off, suddenly thoughtful.
She dodged nimbly through the crowds, letting her
gaze stray past the strangely subdued Hiko, to rest on the other two people.
There didn't seem to be anything special about them. They both wore
traditional garments. The older mans hair had been cropped short but the
younger man had allowed his hair to grow long. He was a swordsman though,
so it was securely tied back. They were both swordsman and she knew the
cane carried by the older man was just for show. Some trinket he had liked.
But while they were swordsman there was nothing obvious to mark them as
being special. Kind of like Himura-san... Aoshi and Hiko though
were another matter.
Iya! That's not the point here!
After she'd fetched Aoshi-sama from the temple,
she'd found out the full extent of the Aoiya conspiracy. As the two men
had relayed their story, both Jiya and Aoshi-sama had nodded slightly as
if reasons were becoming clear and then Jiya had told of the note they
had received from the Tokyo Oniwa Banshu telling them of Kaoru-san's kidnapping
and who was responsible for it. She was not a child, she should not have
been spared the news and despite the fact she'd wanted to scream at them
for not telling her, she'd kept uncharacteristically quiet although she
didn't bother to hide her reactions. It wasn't as if she could.
She'd continued listening, fitting together the
pieces of the puzzle they were presenting as well as she could, even if
at times was skeptical. Soul techniques? Manipulating perception not
using chemicals or illusions? It hardly made any sense but she ignored
that, putting together the pieces but ready to knock some out later. Isn't
that what her training had taught her?
Before they'd asked for help though, Shinichi and
Masujiro had offered a demonstration of their abilities. They'd offered
it with such a matter of fact tone, with expressions saying that they'd
seen disbelief a lot that she'd almost said it wasn't necessary but Aoshi,
Jiya and surprisingly Hiko had said that it would be useful. What did
he say? She frowned, remembering Hiko's deep voice.
"'You know about Hiten Mitsurugi. I would like to
see something of Kouken Sokuuchi.'"
Shinichi and Masujiro has shared a knowing glance
but then the whole group had moved to the Oniwa Banshu's practice room.
It had been an interesting demonstration and after it, Hiko, Jiya
and Aoshi had seemed more willing to listen to them. But what had he
done?
Masujiro had chosen to demonstrate the technique
and had moved to the center of the room. He had drawn his sword and stood
at ease. "Shinomori-san, I don't propose that we actually fight all out
but we are both skilled enough to control our blades so that we don't kill
each other." Aoshi's eyes had flicked but at Hiko's reassuring nod he had
seemed reassured.
Masujiro smiled. He had not missed the reactions.
"Kouken is about defense mostly, about knowing exactly what technique your
opponent will use and to react accordingly," he recapped on their conversation
just passed. "Do not worry, Shinomori-san, you will not hurt me," he had
concluded falling into a more focused stance, following Aoshi with his
eyes and small movements of his body.
Aoshi slowly drew his kodochi. Ryusaki-san obviously
believed what he said and Hiko-san thought that he could handle himself.
He circled carefully, the man had some skills but he did not wish to hurt
him.
He'd swung in from the right but even as he'd moved
he'd seen Ryusaki-san smile slightly and skip out of the way, turning slightly
to keep facing him. The man's calm reassurance, "You will not hurt me,"
was almost as infuriating as Himuras cry to wake up but nothing showed
in Aoshi's eyes or on his face. Instead he stood upright, crossing his
swords before him in a casual stance and disappeared. Or rather, he reappeared
everywhere else.
Masujiro had smiled again and had closed his eyes
murmuring something that the images were distracting, before he turned
and drove forward, catching Aoshi's crossed swords and calling the move
"Gokou juuji" even as Aoshi mouthed the words. Aoshi's eyes had widened
slightly but he had quickly recovered falling back into the motion the
water's flow.
Misao had watched fascinated as Aoshi had continued
to attack. It was actually rather confusing. There were so many images
of her beloved filling the practice hall, that it almost looked like there
was no space to move. But she knew that wasn't the case and besides which,
Hiko-san and Shinichi-san did not seem to be having any trouble determining
where Aoshi-sama was. They both watched, with the same half smile, each
of them nodding occasionally as some move was made by either combatant.
The room echoed with the clang of steel on steel as Masujiro turned back
and forth, his single sword flickering as he caught each attack.
Finally Hiko-san had nodded, a little deeper than
the previous times and he had punctuated his nod with a sigh, indicating
understanding of something. Whatever it was that he understood Masujiro
used his reaction as a signal and had suddenly altered his stance, his
movements quick and precise. Misao watched not understanding what he was
doing, and barely following his motions. Masujiro has fallen out of his
ready pose drawing his sword back, holding it upright before him... And
then... Then Misao wasn't sure what had happened. It had happened fast,
maybe not as fast as Himura-san or Hiko-san could be but it was still fast.
Masujiro had shouted, "Restrain," even as he had lunged forward, his sword
whipping out, thrust forward at a target she could not determine.
But gradually the motion became clear to her, as the various Aoshi's which
had filled the room either vanished or coalesced into one which bore a
faint look of surprise, and was standing with the point of Masujiro's sword
at its heart. His swords were held loosely.
Aoshi narrowed his eyes, "Aa." He knew he'd lost.
Masujiro's defense had been flawless, he'd moved, knowing exactly where
to block and where to turn. Perhaps there was something in his technique.
He was sure that Hiko-san had seen something more but what exactly was
not something he was likely to discover.
Misao frowned, skipping around a cart. 'Restrain,'
just that one word. What had he done? What power did he have? 'Restrain.'
The word echoed again... Nani?..
"MISAO!!!" Something screamed before she
was hit solidly in the back. She stumbled slightly, falling but was cushioned
by strong arms around her. Cloth snapped, its ripple and flow caught her
eyes as she lent back, going limp and preparing to roll as she'd been taught
but she went rigid with shock as a quicksilver flash passed through the
air she had been standing in.
"Aoshi-sama," she whispered, recognizing the fabric,
he had saved her but then instinct born in long hours of drills took over.
The force holding her tight, cushioning her from the ground vanished as
she jumped up. She didn't see Aoshi-sama move but onlookers , those who
looked back while fleeing the impending violence saw the couple split,
each diving away from any follow up attack, drawing their weapons as if
the move had been practiced one thousand times together.
She snapped her wrists, each hand drawing four small
daggers as she jumped away from the place she had been on the ground. Aoshi
drew both his kodochi before he somehow managed to kick the saya at their
attackers. It tangled in the legs of one of them, making them fall and
requiring the others to take care to avoid falling themselves and by then
it was too late. Aoshi was among them, his kodochi working fast.
Misao looked around, choosing her targets carefully.
Kunai were good but she had a limited supply and their attackers seemed
endless. Shinichi and Masujiro were together. Their faces showed nothing
but intense concentration. Shinichi appeared to be ignoring everyone who
was attacking him and was concentrating on defending Masujiro. Masujiro
appeared to be doing the same. It was a odd way to fight perhaps, but it
appeared to be working for them. Still Misao carefully threw several of
her kunai, dropping two of the four attackers who had ganged up against
Shinichi. He quickly handled the rest before spinning around to parry the
blows of another lot of attackers. He did not appear to be having any trouble.
She flicked her eyes back to Aoshi. He, as she expected
was fine. He met his attackers head on, smoothly blocking their attacks
and answering with his own. His trench coat, his usual attire when he chose
to travel followed behind him. Kakkoii... she sighed, a very inappropriate
thought in battle, absently flicking two kunai to the right where they
solidly impacted in the shoulders of two attackers who were trying to flank
her. It was so predictable.
Misao looked around for Hiko. Huh? She looked
again. There was no one around, the area had been cleared fairly quickly
as soon as the attack started and the Police hadn't arrived yet. The only
people who were around was the dwindling stream of attackers. She could
see Shinichi, Masujiro and Aoshi-sama but she'd lost track of Hiko-san.
His handy work lay all over the ground, surrounding everyone else in a
neat ring of fallen foes. She looked again. Fallen foes... There
was something which was not quite right here, something about the people
attacking them. She caught a flash of white in the corner of her eye. Behind
me... She spun, not thinking, four blades released in an underhand
motion, her other hand raised to throw the others.
Ting... ting, ting... Ting. The blade barely
seemed to move as it swept her kunai aside. She froze, her arm falling
to her side.
"Hey!" His voice was stern.
"Ara," Misao whispered, watching the ground, were
her blades had fallen. "Gomen, Hiko-san. I didn't know it was you." She
looked back up at him.
One eye brow twitched slightly. "Humph! Practice
your aim. Two of them missed," was all he said as he walked by, dragging
someone who was not dressed in the same way as the main attackers but whose
empty saya clearly stated he had been an active participant. One who perhaps
wished to blend into the crowd which was sure to gather when the Police
arrived. Dressed the same way..? That was it! All these baka attackers
were dressed similarly. Misao began to collect her kunai, before the Police
arrived, even as Hiko deposited his captive in front of Shinichi and Masujiro
before he turned idly to watch Aoshi finish the last one.
Two of them missed! Misao fumed as she pried
a kunai out of a wall. At least I knew he was there! She kicked
one of their attackers over, looking down at the semi uniform he seemed
to be dressed in. Where are the Police? I know it's early but they should
have responded by now. She looked around. This was going to be difficult
to explain, but maybe not as difficult as I thought. She recognised the
uniform. The only major Yakuza group in Kyoto, the Dayside Dragons. Well,
that will make it easier to explain, she thought as collected the last
kunai, slipping it away as she joined the others, gathering around Hiko's
catch.
"...definitely the leader," Hiko-san finished.
"Aa, Hiko-san. I agree with you," Shinichi smiled,
with a glance at his student Masujiro. "We felt him but we were a tad tied
up."
"I noticed. An interesting method of fighting you
have though," he smirked. "Well Shinomori, have the Oniwa Banshu annoyed
the Dayside Dragons recently or did they just decide to attack us for fun?"
Hiko drawled.
"We haven't provoked them lately," Aoshi replied
calmly.
Whthisss! The shrill whistle from a police officer
sounded near by.
"It's about time they finally got here but do we
wish to question this one first?"
"I think we need to. This attack, simplistic though
it was, may only have been the first, assuming Niijima had anything to
do with it. It could simply have been Yakuza trying to remove the
two Okashira's of the Oniwa Banshu. But if Niijima did have something to
do with this then I, for one, would like to try to avoid fighting the entire
way to Tokyo. The rest of us should be fine but Misao here may run out
of kunai," Masujiro finished, smiling gently at her.
"Ah well, we drag him with us then," Hiko sighed,
bending slightly to pick up their prisoner. "For a while at least," he
added quietly, turning towards the train station. "Shall we go?"
Tokyo - Akihisa's Base
It's quiet with no one here, Akihisa thought
as he finished his morning meditation. At least it was physically quiet
within his compound. The noise of the city on his Kouken senses was as
loud as ever. If anything though, it was more intense. Everything was more
intense since yesterday. He rubbed his arm. It still hurt, but that was
to be expected. His ribs pained him with each breath but they were bandaged
and would heal. Considering what he had gained, and who he had fought,
a bruised arm and some cracked ribs were inconsequential.
He looked to the yard. Katsunan and Bairei had left
yesterday, well before noon, taking with him most of the servants and her...
She still dazzled him and though he missed her presence, until he was used
to the new strength of his abilities it was probably better that they were
apart. One day soon, he would lose himself within her, but the rational
part of him would prefer to be able to find the way out. Heh, I'm too
sentimental. Enough of this. Until the imposter is dead, until he recognises
my
skill, my position this will not be over... His eyes flashed
before Akihisa took a calming breath, forcing himself to examine those
threads he still needed to deal with.
I have to check on the Battousai. I promised
him he would not see me again, but I still need to check that she is acceptable...
Later. Akihisa frowned slightly, remembering. A flicker of motion,
casual, slow but the gaze was too intense. The calm appearance but the
cursing mind. I didn't play with him yesterday so it's only fair that
I should give Saitou something first today. Ah yes, the Shadow Daggers...
I would so hate to disappoint him.
His decision made, Akihisa rose and strode
to the wall. Reverentially he reached out, picking up the sword. As always
a jolt passed through him as he touched the blade, even through the saya,
it was so powerful, so perfect. "I have the technique which is worthy of
you now," he whispered to the sword. "Now you will not be dishonored."
He slid the sword through his belt before he reached for the wakizashi.
Something made him pause, his hand hovering over the wakizashi's saya.
Akihisa's emerald eyes clouded, becoming black as something stirred within
him. He closed his eyes, shivering slightly. His breathing became erratic.
What's
wrong with me? The thought was lost in a haze of red.
::Worthy of me?:: There was no voice but the question
was there. Akihisa's eyes flew open.
"Nani!?" The world was red and everything was hard,
angular. Everything was flat with sharp edges.
::Worthy of me?:: It came again. ::Are you really
worthy of me?::
He gasped looking down at his waist. Akihisa's arms
moved unconsciously, drawing the sword, he had donned. The Battousai's
sword? he thought. In the harsh red of the world it stood out. Somehow
it seemed to glow and while everything he saw was defined sharply,
it seemed to be clearer. And it was waiting for his response.
::Kouken Sokuuchi even when used to its full extent
is not a technique which is worthy of your perfection,:: Akihisa began.
::You should only be used with the technique of the man who wielded you
through the Bakumatsu, the technique of a man whose skill is legendary
to this day. Anything else would cheapen your worth, would be a dishonor
to you.::
::Yet you believe you are worthy of me, you believe
that the combining of body and mind is better than the one alone I was
used with before?::
::Hai, the combining makes both of them stronger,
both more precise. But it requires something else before they are perfect.::
How
does one explain things to a sword?
::I am a part of that?:: The question was there,
but there was something else carried with the voiceless feeling... Doubt,
he identified the feeling.
It doubts me?! Akihisa flared. Or does
it doubt itself? ::You are a part of this. However your perfection
could only be matched at the beginning by one technique, Hiten Mitsurugi
Ryuu. Now, as the times have changed and the purpose for which you were
made had been fulfilled, it requires something more to match you. The combination
of body and mind is the technique you are worthy of, now and I will wield
you thus. In time, I will give you the perfect technique.::
::Worthy of me?:: Again there was no voice, just
the feeling of the question but the world he saw darkened slightly. ::Worthy
of me? Are you worthy of me?:: Malice was in the tone. Akihisa shuddered,
there was not even the hope of forgiveness in that tone should he step
wrong.
::I am,:: he snarled at it. ::I am the only
one who will wield you to your full potential. I am worthy of you,:: he
replied forcefully.
::Worthy of me.:: It came again before the world
disappeared and everything changed...
Akihisa shivered. Nani? This isn't... I've never...
A force crashed down on his confused thoughts.
The snow lay thick under the trees all around him.
It's crisp whiteness was beautiful but the ground before him was marred.
The snow was trampled and churned. It was no longer white but was stained
and splattered with red. His breath burned within his throat, one more
small pain which barely registered. His ears... Blood was flowing freely
from them. His mouth tasted of nothing but blood. His eyes burned, the
sparkling brilliance of the explosion still dazzled them. His arms felt
heavy and his hands gripped the blade only from long habit. His whole body
hurt, a throbbing pain. But that was nothing. He still had work to do.
One more enemy remained before him. One more between him and rest.
He tensed and jumped forward. One more. One last
blow and this would all be over. He pulled back and began, driving the
sword down. Nani!? That smell... "IYA." But he could not stop...
Did he want to stop?
The snow, it's chill burnt into his legs was no
longer white. It was red, completely covered by blood. He was holding someone,
a woman. That face... The Battousai... He knew this woman. Her white
face was as familiar as his own but suddenly it changed. Her dark eyes
becoming a crisp, vibrant blue but they were slowly losing their life.
The whiteness of her face darkened, becoming a warmer softer shade but
it was taking on the pallor of death. "K...k...kaoru... KAORU!!! Iya! I...
I killed her... The thought was sickening. No, it wasn't, it was what he
wanted... Then there was nothing but darkness.
::Worthy of me?:: Scathing. ::You might be.::
The tone was considering, calculating. A new image, a face, a man. Narrowed
yellow eyes, four tendrils of hair trailing over the face while the rest
was slicked back. A hard, determined face. One he knew, Saitou Hajime.
::Are you worthy of me? Prove it!::
"Yeargh!" Akihisa screamed, falling to his knees,
dropping the sword to clutch his head as the words echoed again and again,
rising to a noise beyond sound, ordering him, taunting, making the word
spin. ::Prove it. Prove it. PROVE IT!:: And then a whisper. ::And then
I will consider you worthy.:: The world shattered, the flat red tinted
view fell like glass before vanishing. The world returned to normal. Akihisa
remained still, bracing himself on hands and knees as in between painful
gasps for breath he wretched. But there was nothing to come and he was
reduced to a series of coughs. That wasn't me. I didn't do it. It was
the sword... No... That was the Battousai! His memory, his actions...
Akihisa gasped, tears squeezing their way out of his eyes to roll down
his face as he coughed.
Finally he gritted his teeth, drawing himself back
to sit kneeling. He was covered in sweat and his body shook from strain.
"Stubborn thing aren't you?" he muttered, trying to breath deeply as he
brought himself under control. "Vicious too. But you're right. Death is
too easy." He smiled slightly as he reached out again and carefully sheathed
the sword. "A challenge but I expected nothing less from you and from the
woman. But I will do it. I will bring him to his knees. I will prove to
you that I am the only one for you. I will do what you want." He chuckled
slightly as his tone became faintly scolding, "but I never would have thought
you would have been so vain."
Akihisa sighed. "Time to go. Recruiting is such
a drag but I should be able to show you what the combination of Hiten and
Kouken can do." he turned from the wall, leaving the wakizashi as he cast
his mind over the city, searching for those he could use to deal with the
Shadow Daggers. "Maybe I shouldn't have let them have the Tanto Phoenix's
but I guess there was no choice," he muttered as he located a suitable
group. "This should be fun though."
Tokyo - Elsewhere and Later
Akihisa strode through the streets. A little careful
confusion, misdirection ensured that no one noticed his passage, not even
when he entered the shabbier part of town, confidently heading towards
his destination. He could feel the curiosity of the blade. ::A little different
from what you're used to, hmm?:: he questioned, amused before turning his
attention away. He stopped and drew back slightly into a comfortably dark
alley, looking over at his target. He considered his options. Darn it!
This is why I have Katsunan. I should send Bairei. No... He has other things
to do. Those BAKA Shadow Daggers! ARGH! But why do I have to do
this? He sighed irritably, arguing with himself more reasonably. This
will be a good test, one I haven't given myself for far to long. Group
manipulation is always harder that individuals and I need to keep in practice...
If I can't I can always test out the effectiveness of Hiten Mitsurugi for
myself. I'll be doing the city a favor, he grinned viciously. I
have to check on everyone soon, so I had better make this quick. I'll take
them head on, that should catch their attention, providing they're sober
enough to listen. Akihisa reached up, running his hands through his
hair before tying it back with a scrap piece of leather before letting
his hands fall.
He reached out, determining the location
of each target. Hmm, their positioning is interesting. Hehe! Akihisa
smothered his amusement, closing his eyes and drawing in his power. He
opened his eyes slowly, their emerald brilliance was dull. He extended
his focus, pulling his manto tight around his body as he spun his mind
down, spiraling around and around forming a cloak of thought, one that
would cause the world... no not the world, just the humans, to ignore him.
Kouken
can be so useful at times but he knew its weaknesses. If people would pay
attention to their weapons, they might be able to see me but there is no
one like that here. I'll just have a little chat with their boss...
He lunged forward, running from the alley towards
the small compound which contained the one's he had chosen. But one
group is like the rest. These ones are convenient. His manto flowed
behind him, its geocentrically patterned edge rippling, catching the sun
but he didn't notice.
Akihisa jumped to the top of the wall, landing lightly
before leaping down and dodging left into a deep shadow cast by the morning
sun. They can't see me but the shadow is difficult to miss... Now...
He narrowed his eyes, considering the building. The boss is in the back
room... Back door... back door, he searched for the thought, opening
himself to those around him, gently probing before he mentally pulled back
and began moving along the wall.
The room was bare and was surprisingly quiet. One
man sat on a slightly raise dais and he was the only occupant, although
guards, if they could be called such, lounged within shouting distance,
gambling and drinking away whatever money they had. They hadn't begun their
usual work of extortion or terrorizing the local populace for today. Akihisa
leant against the wall, his arms folded under his manto. The man hadn't
noticed him yet, he wouldn't until Akihisa decided he was ready. This was
easy to ensure although it had taken a bit of work to get into the room,
to make its occupant ignore the door as it slid back enough for him to
gain access to the room.
The yakuza boss was not a typical specimen. As far
as Niijima was concerned there were two types. the strong man who enforced
order by means of his bulk or the snake, usually diminutive or fat, but
with a crude, cunning mind who could blackmail others into submission.
This one didn't appear to be either. He appeared to have had some formal
training and was sitting in some semblance of a meditation pose. It
might be nice to talk to an educated man. His clothes were not
rumpled and were clean but there was nothing extravagant about them. Indeed
he could probably walk through any street and be seen as nothing more than
a man with a medium build and a respectable profession.
Akihisa reached out, first in a general way, confirming
the location of the others before he narrowed his focus upon the rooms
other occupant. ...forward, left arm down, right leg back, arm high,
turn... He stifled a snort. His mind was running through katas! On
the surface at least. Akihisa pushed deeper. Various plots and half formed
schemes floated around him but they confirmed what Niijima needed to know.
This particular batch of yakuza did not have any affection or animosity
beyond the norm for the Shadow Daggers. I wouldn't want Saitou-san to
get the wrong idea, Akihisa thought, pulling back. It did show him
one other thing. This man, despite his appearance he had a complete lack
of morals that was a prerequisite for anyone in his position He looked
at the man through his long lashes, his hand moving to the hilt of his
sword. It was time to get his attention.
He moved, lunging forward as he drew the Battousai's,
no his sword, leveling it at the man's throat. The man's eyes snapped
open as he felt the sudden burst of hostility but by then it was too late.
Niijima stood before him, sword tip digging gently into his throat, as
his manto fluttered around him. The man's eyes were wide and his gaze strained
between Akihisa and the sword. "You could scream," Akihisa informed him
pleasantly. "But I will kill you before you can draw breath for that."
His face took on a slightly saddened look. "And that would be such a waste,
since I didn't really come here to kill you," he paused, meeting the man's
eyes. "Now do I have your attention?"
The man nodded slightly, carefully. "Good," Akihisa
purred. "I trust you'll let me talk for a little while, hmm? Things could
get very unpleasant if you don't." Akihisa smiled at him. He could feel
the man's confusion, the turmoil of his mind. He nodded again.
"Ah," Niijima nodded back, withdrawing his sword,
but not resheathing it as he stepped back lightly. "Now Ibi Hiroji, I believe
your name is, I have a business proposition for you..." He felt the decision
before Hiroji was even aware of it but he decide to let it go, it would
make things more interesting.
Akihisa made no move as Hiroji screamed for his
guards. He merely glanced contemptuously around with half closed eyes assessing
their reactions. After all, their inner sanctum had been invaded and they
hadn't even noticed. Ibi smirked, obviously assured of his superiority
by the presence of his men. "No. I have a proposition for you... You get
to die!" He sounded triumphant.
Niijima sighed, tiredly. Can't anyone come up
with something more original. I heard this so many times when I was looking
for the Battousai. A polite escort outside would probably leave me dazed.
"I
already said I wasn't here to kill you baka! If I wanted to, you wouldn't
even have noticed me. Heh! You didn't even notice me enter this
room... So what makes you think you have the advantage now?" he questioned,
planting the doubt.
Hiroji shook his head. "You're good and amusing
but you really shouldn't have tried it this way... Kill him!"
"How boring!" Niijima sighed again, his arm already
moving, snapping up, sword still held horizontally, gripped by his little
and ring fingers. The other two were extended straight, pointing towards
Hiroji. "Restraint," he snarled, suddenly angry. This was such a waste
of time. He should be checking on the Battousai and then he could leave
to be with her. The dull throb from his arm did not help his temper.
Everyone, every single man within the compound froze,
held by Niijima's will.
Akihisa stepped towards Hiroji, who was doing his
best to cower back despite the fact he couldn't move. "Now," Niijima whispered.
"You are going to listen to me." His eyes burned into Ibi's, black overpowering
the brown. "And you are going to obey me... willingly or not. And should
you think about payment for your services..." Akihisa's arm snaked out
and the shining length of his sword flashed once, cleaving cleanly through
the chest of one unfortunate. They fell without so much as a strangled
cry. Blood splattered noisily on the floor and popped form the lungs. "You
get to live for payment..."
End Part 11
Definitions
Ougi – Final technique
Deshi – pupil, student
Kodochi – Aoshi's short sword
Ara – general exclamation of surprise
Gomen - Sorry
Hai, Aa - Yes
Saya – sword sheath
Okashira - Leader
Kunai – Misao's weapon of choice
Wakizashi - the short sword that a samurai carried
Baka - stupid
Kakkoii – good looking/handsome/cool (Thanks Tatsuko-san)
Nani – what
Iya - no
Mou - darn, general female exclamation of frustration or annoyance
Minna - everyone
Tamashii Hitokken Ryu - Yasutake Ryuichi's and Murakami Seir's technique
Tamashii - soul
Hitokken - One Sword
Kouken Sokuuchi Ryu - Niijima Akihisa, Segawa Shinichi, and Ryusaki
Masujiro's technique
Kou - Thought
Ken - Sword
Soku - Swift
Uchi - Strike
Fairly simple ne?
HUGE Thank you to Tatsuko for helping to create the names of some fighting
schools.
Any other names that appear in this fic, eg names of people, while I'm sure they mean something, I did not pick them because of any meaning they may have. I picked them because I liked them when I was choosing names. Some I stole from other manga's and animes and one or two I made up myself.
Review Please!